Horror Book Review: Grisly Deeds (Tommy Ellis/Margot Ellis)

Written by the husband-and-wife team of Tommy and Margot Ellis, Grisly Deeds is a collection of horror shorts not for the faint of heart. A collection that pays homage to the classic horror anthologies of the 1960s and 70s. Filled with tales of cold war experiments gone wrong, medical terrors, Victorian and Edwardian gothic, this is a collection to read with all the lights on. That shadow, though… the one in the corner… did it just move on its own?

I do love an anthology, regardless of format, especially when each story is approached with a delicious amount of horror-infused glee. Something Tommy and Margot Ellis certainly do with this collection. Featuring a bevy of creative reads that vary up the style and type of horror the reader can experience. The only parallel between each being that they are based in horror, and even then, some are way more garish than others.

Beginning with First Do No Harm, one of the shortest stories, the tongue in cheek grim tone is evident from the start and that follows into the twisted Dead Man’s Teeth. Both tell a story where you can see the end result coming, but like all good horror, you’re looking at it through your fingers. More so with the latter (and the following Simon), as in just a handful of pages, the Ellis’ craft a ton of Victorian/Edwardian atmosphere.

One of the best stories comes next though and its Worst Case Scenario, a zombie apocalypse story with a very clever twist. I do love a zombie apocalypse story that doesn’t follow the usual formula, and this is that tale.

Jonas Peveril then changes the tone of the collection with a sadder, but satisfying, read. Before the Ellis’ take us back to the brink of their twisted imaginations with Mrs Marzipan’s Candyporium. A messed-up version of Hanzel & Gretel (well, more messed up than the actual story) isn’t new, but the way in which the authors tell this version is extremely memorable.

Then there’s The Elvis Reply, Taxidermist and Have a Heart. A trio of tales that don’t quite hit the high bar set so far, mainly lacking a memorable hook, but a trio of tales that do still deliver more unique reads. The word variety was used at the start of this review and it really does ring true. Especially as this section of the collection also includes Fast Forward, one of the longer and more detailed stories. Telling a tale based more in sci-fi, and guaranteeing to leave a priceless look on the reader’s face.

VHUK uses the COVID pandemic to tell a delightfully wicked tale that had me smiling from ear to ear. Whereas Tsunami is incredibly creative, delivering an ending that very few will actually see coming. Then there is The Pendleton Curse, heavy on atmosphere and with impressive layers of fright. Alas, it peters out near the end, and doesn’t quite stick the landing. Before Table Manners turns things around with an utterly brilliant piece of writing. If there is one story in this collection that I would offer someone to read to get an idea of the overall tone and feel of the book, it’s this. No spoilers, but the final revelation of this tale had me exclaiming loudly. I loved it.

It’s not all about brash horror though, as proven so far, and with the cleverly written Project Lazarus, the imaginative The Five Forty Five, and the Letters from the Attic. Each has a classic style with their own unique tone, and each pleases in their own unique way. Of the three, it’s probably the latter that I enjoyed the most as it got my imagination working overtime too.

Finally, to wrap up a genuinely excellent collection of stories, the Ellis’ offer up Angie Baby, a read that leaves an uneasy feeling in the pit of the stomach. Photo Finish, a tale that needed a little more meat on the bones to be really memorable, and Secret Ingredient, a miserable read that is thoroughly enjoyable.

There’s a lot to enjoy in Grisly Tales with the quality tales vastly outweighing the ones that don’t necessarily thrill. The variety in the stories, the different approaches to horror, and the willingness to experiment with ideas is what makes this collection such a standout experience. There’s nothing terrible here either, and the biggest takeaway is how many stories jump off the page. Most of which is because Tommy and Margot Ellis have a lovable penchant for delivering horror with glee.

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